System and Method for Identifying a Wireless Serving Node for a Mobile Unit

ABSTRACT

A system and method for identifying a wireless serving node for a mobile unit include the ability to receive a wireless registration request at a control node for a wireless serving node cluster and determine a control node associated with the registration request by using an algorithm on a mobile unit identifier in the registration request. The system and method also include the ability to generate a wireless registration response containing an identifier for the control node associated with the registration request if the control node is not the control node associated with the registration request.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.10/046,466 filed Jan. 11, 2002 and entitled “System and method forIdentifying a Wireless Serving Node for a Mobile Unit”.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates in general to wireless communication systems,and, more particularly, to a system and method for identifying awireless serving node for a mobile unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Modern communication systems allow individuals to stay in communicationas they move about. The most notable device for this is the cellulartelephone, which allows people to communicate verbally with each other.There is, however, a whole other range of communications that people usein their daily lives that are not as well developed for mobile use—thesending and receiving of data, such as, for example, over the Internet.

To address this need, modern communication systems include wirelessdevices that are capable of initiating data sessions through servingnodes coupled to a network. The wireless devices may then receive data,such as, for example, stock quotes, advertisements, and/or e-mails, fromvarious service providers.

In existing networks, when a wireless device moves from one location toanother, a new wireless and/or data link may have to be established toservice the device. While establishing a new wireless link may beaccomplished quite readily, establishing a new data link may takesignificantly longer, which may result in a significant loss of dataand/or annoyance to the user of the device.

To solve this problem, serving nodes have been built that can handlemore data links, thereby lowering the probability that a wireless devicewill have to establish a data link to a different serving node whenmoving between locations. Another solution is to have each serving nodesend data regarding the wireless sessions that it is managing to theother serving nodes. Accordingly, each serving node would know whichserving node is managing a wireless session for the wireless device upondetecting a registration request for it.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a system and method for identifying awireless serving node for a mobile unit. In particular embodiments, thepresent invention identifies the wireless serving node for the mobileunit while conserving the memory and processing resources on thewireless serving nodes and while achieving inter-cluster andintra-cluster load balancing.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method foridentifying a wireless serving node for a mobile unit includes receivinga wireless registration request at a control node for a wireless servingnode cluster and determining a control node associated with theregistration request by using an algorithm on a mobile unit identifierin the registration request. The method also includes generating awireless registration response containing an identifier for the controlnode associated with the registration request if the control node is notthe control node associated with the registration request.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a set oflogic for identifying a wireless serving node for a mobile unit isencoded in media and includes the ability to receive a wirelessregistration request at a control node for a wireless serving nodecluster and determine a control node associated with the registrationrequest by using an algorithm on a mobile unit identifier in theregistration request. The logic also includes the ability to generate awireless registration response containing an identifier for the controlnode associated with the registration request if the control node is notthe control node associated with the registration request.

In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention, asystem for identifying a wireless serving node for a mobile unitincludes a serving node cluster including a plurality of wirelessserving nodes, a control node, and a communication network. Eachwireless serving node is operable to manage a plurality of wirelesssessions. The control node is operable to receive a wirelessregistration request for the cluster, determine a control nodeassociated with the registration request by using an algorithm on amobile unit identifier in the registration request, and generate awireless registration response containing an identifier for the controlnode associated with the registration request if it is not the controlnode associated with the registration request. The communication networkis coupled to the serving nodes and the control node and allows theserving nodes and the control node to exchange data.

The present invention has several technical features. For example, acontrol node that receives a wireless registration request for a mobileunit attempts to determine the appropriate cluster to manage wirelesssessions for the mobile unit by using an algorithm on its identifier.Thus, the management of mobile units may be distributed in a controlledmanner between serving node clusters and may be achieved without stateinformation exchange. Moreover, using an algorithmic approach simplifiesimplementation and allows other network elements to assist in making theappropriate selection, which can reduce signaling. Furthermore, bydirecting registration requests for a mobile to a particular servingnode cluster, a data link that may already exist in the cluster may bemaintained. Accordingly, a new data link may not have to be establishedto the mobile unit, which will decrease the time in which data cannot betransmitted. As another example, because the registration requests aredirected to the control node for the cluster, the serving nodes do nothave to maintain data about the wireless sessions being managed by theother serving nodes in the cluster and/or do not have to try to select aserving node to manage a wireless session, allowing them to conservememory and processing resources for managing wireless sessions.Moreover, the control node may readily implement a load balancing schemebetween the serving nodes in the cluster. As a further example, aserving node cluster may be easily modified since additional servingnodes may be added without significant effect on the capabilities of theserving nodes already in the cluster and/or because serving nodes andcontrol nodes do not have to be co-located. Other technical featuresinclude reliability due to redundant controllers and scalability due tolinear growth of the number of serving nodes with the number of datasessions,

Of course, some embodiments may possess none, one, some, or all of thesetechnical features and/or additional technical features. Other technicalfeatures will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from thefigures, description, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures described below provide a more complete understanding of thepresent invention and its technical features, especially when consideredwith the following detailed written description:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a communication system inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a control nodefor the communication system in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of a session database for the controlnode in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of a control node database for thecontrol node in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating operations of a control node inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a communication system 10 inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In general,system 10 includes servers 20 that send data to and/or receive data froma mobile unit 30 and a communication network 40, a wireless serving nodecluster 50, a radio access network (RAN) 55, a wireless serving nodecluster 60, and a RAN 65 for transferring the data between servers 20and mobile unit 30. Servers 20 may store and/or generate the data to besent to mobile unit 30 and may provide the data upon request, by usingpush techniques, or in any other appropriate manner. The data mayinclude video, text, audio, voice, and/or any other type of data.

In more detail, servers 20 may be any type of devices that can send datatoward mobile unit 30 and/or assist in managing system 10. For example,servers 20 may include stock quote servers, weather forecast servers,e-mail servers, and/or any other appropriate type of data server. Asanother example, servers 20 may include an accounting server, a locationserver, and/or any other suitable server for providing services insystem 10. In particular embodiments, one or more of servers 20 mayreceive data from mobile unit 30. In general, system 10 may have anynumber and/or type of servers.

To assist one or more of servers 20 in sending data to mobile unit 30,system 10 includes communication network 40. Communication network 40 iscoupled to servers 20 by links 42 and is operable to receive data fromservers 20 and send it towards mobile unit 30. In particularembodiments, network 40 is also operable to receive data from mobileunit 30 and send it to one or more of servers 20. Communication network40 may be composed of servers, routers, switches, repeaters, backbones,links, and/or any other appropriate type of communication devices. Links42 of communication network 40 may be wires, fiber-optic cables,microwave channels, and/or any other appropriate type of wireline and/orwireless links. Links 42 may also include intermediate servers, routers,switches, repeaters, backbones, and/or other communication devices. Ingeneral, communication network 40 may be any interconnection found onany communication network, such as a wide area network (WAN), theInternet, or any other data exchange system between two or morecomputers.

Also assisting in the transfer of data to mobile unit 30 are wirelessserving node cluster 50, RAN 55, wireless serving node cluster 60, andRAN 65. In general, one of wireless serving node cluster 50 and wirelessserving node cluster 60 receives data over one of links 42 for mobileunit 30 and sends the data to the RAN associated with the serving nodecluster for wireless communication to the mobile unit, although inparticular embodiments, data may be received from a mobile unit and sentover one of links 42. A RAN may be associated with a serving nodecluster based on geography, network connection, logic, and/or any otherappropriate type of criteria. Note that each of serving node cluster 50and serving node cluster 60 typically support numerous mobile units.

Serving node cluster 50 includes wireless serving nodes 51, which arecoupled to communication network 40 by links 42. In general, wirelessserving nodes 51 are operable to receive data destined for mobile unit30 from communication network 40 and send the data towards the mobileunit. In particular embodiments, serving nodes 51 may also receive datafrom mobile unit 30 and send it to communication network 40. In someembodiments, serving nodes 51 may be packet data serving nodes.

In certain embodiments, each of serving nodes 51 includes a home agentand/or a foreign agent for managing communications through them betweenmobile unit 30 and one of serving nodes 20. Home agents and foreignagents may provide communication between a mobile unit and an end point,such as, for example, another mobile unit, a telephone, one of servers20, or any other suitable device. A home agent may include a bindingtable that stores data relating to a mobile unit, such as a mobile unitidentifier, a care of address (COA) for the current foreign agent, theinternet protocol (IP) address or addresses assigned to the mobile unit,other mobile binding information, and/or any other suitable tunnelingcharacteristics. Similarly, a foreign agent may include a binding tablethat stores data relating to each corresponding mobile unit. Forexample, for each corresponding mobile unit, the binding table of theforeign agent may include a mobile unit identifier, an address for thehome agent, the IP address or addresses assigned to the mobile unit,other binding mobile information, and any other tunnelingcharacteristics.

Serving node cluster 50 also includes communication network 52 andcontrol nodes 54, which will be discussed in more detail later.Communication network 52 allows serving nodes 51, control nodes 54, andRAN 55 to exchange data with each other. Communication network 52 may becomposed of servers, routers, switches, repeaters, backbones, links,and/or any other appropriate type of communication devices. In general,communication network 52 may be any interconnection found on anycommunication network, such as a wide area network (WAN), the Internet,or any other data exchange system between two or more computers. Inparticular embodiments, all or a part of communication network 52 may bepart of communication network 40. Communication network 52 includeslinks 53 to serving nodes 51, control nodes 54, and RAN 55. Links 53 maybe wires, fiber-optic cables, microwave channels, and/or any otherappropriate type of wireline and/or wireless links. Links 53 may includeintermediate servers, routers, switches, repeaters, backbones, and/orother communication devices.

RAN 55 includes base stations 56, which are each operable to receivedata destined for mobile unit 30 over links 53 and wirelesslycommunicate the data to the mobile unit, assuming the mobile unit iswithin its serving area 58. In certain embodiments, base stations 56 mayalso wirelessly receive data for one of servers 20 from mobile unit 30and send the data towards the server. Base stations 50 may include basestation controllers, base transceiver stations, and/or any other type ofequipment and/or logic for managing wireless links. Note that each basestation 56 is typically operable to wirelessly communicate with multiplemobile units located within its service area 58. It will be recognizedthat one or more of serving nodes 51 may be servicing one or more ofbase stations 56.

Base stations 56 include a packet control function (PCF) 57 to managethe sending and receiving of data to and/or from mobile unit 30. PCFs 57may be logic encoded in media, microcontrollers, application-specificintegrated circuits, state machines, and/or any other type of system formanipulating data in a logical manner.

In particular embodiments, radio packet (RP) data sessions may beestablished over links 53 between base stations 56 and serving nodes 51.Each RP session provides a logical path for a mobile unit data packetsession between one of base stations 56 and one of serving nodes 51.

Returning to wireless serving node cluster 50, control nodes 54 areresponsible for managing wireless registration requests from PCFs 57and, if appropriate, selecting serving nodes 51 to manage wirelesssessions. As illustrated, control nodes 54 operate in a 1+1 redundancyrelationship, although any number of control nodes may be used.Accordingly, while one of control nodes 54 is currently managingregistration requests and selecting serving nodes to manage wirelesssessions for serving node cluster 50, the other is monitoring and/orreceiving updates from it to track its operational state. Thus, if theactive control node fails or needs to be taken off-line, the standbycontrol node may take over with minimal loss of service to mobile units.In particular embodiments, control nodes 54 may use the Hot StandbyRouter Protocol (HSRP) to achieve the redundancy and may be coupledtogether by their own communication network. In certain embodiments,control nodes 54 may implement load balancing between serving nodes 51,which may require keeping track of the wireless sessions being managedby serving nodes 51 and/or their operational capabilities. Control nodes54 may or may not themselves manage wireless sessions and may or may notbe part of a serving node.

Serving node cluster 60 and RAN 65 have similar components to those ofserving node cluster 50 and RAN 55. In brief, therefore, serving nodecluster 60 includes wireless serving nodes 61 and control nodes 64,which are coupled to each other for data exchange by communicationnetwork 62 and its links 63. Additionally, RAN 65 includes base stations66, each or which services an area 68 and includes a PCF 67. Note thatserving node cluster 60 and RAN 65 do not need to be identical toserving node cluster 50 and RAN 55.

Mobile unit 30 is operable to wirelessly receive data from RANs 55, 65and may be a wireless telephone, a wireless interface terminal, awireless personal digital assistant, or any other suitable mobile deviceoperable to provide wireless communication. Mobile unit 30 wirelesslycommunicates with a base station over a radio frequency (RF) link 32 orother suitable wireless link. Mobile unit 30 may communicate data andassociated information to a serving node by in-band and/or out-of-bandmessaging.

According to one embodiment, RF link 32 is based on establishedtechnology, such as IS-95 CDMA, W-CDMA, or CDMA-2000. In a particularembodiment, RF link 32 is a code division multiple access (CDMA) linkbased on a CDMA standard in which packets are segmented into frames forwireless transmission from mobile unit 30 to a base station, where theframes are reassembled to reconstitute the packets.

Communication system 10 additionally includes a communication network70, which allows control nodes 54 and control nodes 64, and possiblyserving nodes 51 and serving nodes 61, to exchange data with each other.Communication network 70 may be composed of servers, routers, switches,bridges, repeaters, backbones, links, and/or any other suitable type ofcommunication devices. In general, communication network 70 may be anyinterconnection found on any communication network, such as a WAN, theInternet, or any other data exchange system between more computers. Asillustrated, communication network 70 is coupled to communicationnetwork 52 and communication network 62 by links 72. Links 72 may bewires, fiber-optic cables, microwave channels, and/or any other suitabletype of wireline and/or wireless link. Links 72 may include intermediateservers, routers, switches, repeaters, backbones, and/or othercommunication devices. In particular embodiments, all or a part ofcommunication network 70 may be part of communication network 40,communication network 52, and/or communication network 62.

Communication system 10 also includes mobile switching centers (MSCs) 80coupled to base stations 56, 66. MSCs 80 are operable to performauthentication and to set up and disconnect calls for mobile unitsserviced by the base stations. MSC's 80 are also operable to provide, inconjunction with the base stations, switch and soft hand-offfunctionality for system 10. In this way, data, such as voice, video,audio, text, and/or any other type of data, may be sent to mobile unit30 as it moves between areas serviced by the base stations. Accordingly,mobile unit 30 may travel throughout a wide geographic area whilemaintaining wireless communications. Each MSC 80 includes a subscriberdatabase 82. Subscriber databases 82 may store service level agreementsfor mobile units and provide the agreements to serving nodes for servicemanagement, traffic management, or other appropriate operations.Subscriber databases 82 may also store information relating to mobileunits and/or users of mobile units, such as names, addresses, accountnumbers, account types, and/or any other suitable information.

In particular embodiments of operation, when mobile unit 30 desires adata service, which may, for example, be triggered by the initiation ofan application at the mobile unit and/or the activation of the mobileunit, a wireless session is initiated between the mobile unit, a basestation, and a serving node. To initiate the wireless session in theillustrated embodiment, PCF 57 of base station 56 z generates a wirelessregistration request and sends it to one or both of control nodes 54. Inparticular embodiments, the registration request is an A11-RegistrationRequest, possibly with an identifier for the control nodes in the homeagent field, although any other appropriate type of registration requestmay be used.

Upon receiving the registration request, the active one of control nodes54 determines which serving node cluster should service the mobile unitbased on the identity of the mobile unit. To accomplish this, the activecontrol node algorithmically analyzes an identifier for the mobile unitand associates the identifier with a serving node cluster. In particularembodiments, the control node may perform a modulo operation on theidentifier of the mobile unit based on the number of clusters todetermine the appropriate cluster for the mobile unit, the remainder ofthe operation providing an index to the appropriate cluster record. Inother embodiments, any other hash method or any other algorithmic methodmay be used on the identifier of the mobile unit. The identifier of themobile unit may be an International Mobile Subscriber Identifier (IMSI),an Electronic Serial Number (ESN), a Mobile identification number (MIN),or any other appropriate identifier for a mobile unit and/or subscriber.

If serving node cluster 50 is not the appropriate cluster for servicingmobile unit 30, the control node redirects the registration request tothe appropriate cluster by generating a wireless registration responsecontaining an identifier for the control nodes of the appropriatecluster. The identifier may be a Media Access Control (MAC) address, anInternet protocol (IP) address, or any other appropriate type ofidentifier for a control node. In general, the registration response maybe any message that directs a PCF or other network element generatingand/or processing the request to the proper control node. In particularembodiments, the registration response is an A11-Registration Replyindicating that the registration request is denied, possibly byindicating that the address for the serving node is unknown, andincluding the IP address for the control node of the appropriate clusterin the Home Agent information element. PCF 57 of base station 56 z maythen generate another wireless registration request for the mobile unit,but this time, using the identifier for the control node of theappropriate cluster.

Assuming, however, that cluster 50 is the appropriate cluster for mobileunit 30, the active control node 54 is responsible for selecting whichof serving nodes 51 will manage the wireless session. To accomplishthis, the control node analyzes the registration request to determinethe type of data service requested and/or analyzes data about servingnodes 51. In particular embodiments, the control node may examine theloading and/or capabilities of serving nodes 51 to maintain a relativelyeven distribution of wireless sessions between serving nodes 51.Furthermore, in certain embodiments, the control node may maintain anN30 1 redundancy from the availability perspective for the serving nodes51. The control node may monitor the status of serving nodes 51 tomaintain this redundancy. Once one of serving nodes 51 has beenselected, a registration response that contains an identifier for theselected serving node is generated and sent to PCF 57 of base station 56z. The identifier may be a MAC address, IP address, or any otherappropriate type of identifier for a wireless serving node. Inparticular embodiments, the registration response may indicate that theregistration request is denied. Upon receiving the registrationresponse, PCF 57 of base station 56 z generates another wirelessregistration request, directed to the selected one of serving nodes 51.

When the selected one of serving nodes 51 receives the wirelessregistration request from PCF 57 of base station 56 z, it determineswhether it can establish a wireless session with the mobile unit,possibly based on the availability of resources for managing a wirelesssession, and, if so, generates a registration response indicatingacceptance of the request and sends it to PCF 57 of base station 56 z.In particular embodiments, the registration response may be anA11-Registration Reply, although any other appropriate type ofregistration response may be used. The wireless session may then beestablished.

If, however, the selected serving node 51 determines that it cannotestablish a session with the PCF, the selected serving node may generatea registration response that directs the originating PCF back to thecontrol node. The control node may then select another one of servingnodes 51, possibly after updating data regarding the availability of theoriginally selected serving node. The originating PCF may also generateanother registration request if a predetermined period of time expiresbefore receiving a response from the serving node.

Establishing a wireless session may involve allocating RF resourcesbetween the mobile unit and the serving base station, establishing an RPsession between the serving base station and the selected serving node,establishing a data link between the mobile unit and the selectedserving node, allocating an IP address to the mobile unit, and/or anyother appropriate function. In particular embodiments, the selectedserving node may also attempt, possibly in conjunction with MSC 80 aand/or subscriber database 82 a, to authenticate mobile unit 30.

Establishing the data link may include negotiation, validation,privilege determination, and/or profile determination. For example,establishing a data link may involve PCF 57 of base station 56 z sendingan identifier for the mobile unit, an identifier for a user of themobile unit, an identifier for base station 56 z, an indication of thedata service requested, and/or any other appropriate data to theselected serving node. Using this data, the selected serving node,possibly in conjunction with MSC 80 a and subscriber data base 82 a, mayvalidate the mobile unit, the subscriber, and/or the data servicerequest. Upon validation, the data link between the selected servingnode and the serving base station may be negotiated. In particularembodiments, the data link may be serial link, such as, for example, apoint-to-point protocol (PPP) link between the selected serving node andthe mobile unit. Once the data link is established, the mobile unit maybegin receiving data from servers 20.

Assuming that mobile unit 30 has a data link to serving node 51 athrough base station 56 z, if mobile unit 30 moves into area 58 ofanother one of base stations 56, the active one of control nodes 54recognizes that mobile unit 30 is communicating with a different one ofbase stations 56 by receiving a registration request from PCF 57 of thebase station serving that area. For example, if mobile unit 30 movesinto area 58 of base station 56 y, PCF 57 of base station 56 y detectsthe presence of mobile unit 30, generates a wireless registrationrequest for mobile unit 30, and sends this request to control nodes 54.The registration request may include an identifier for the mobile unit,an identifier for the base station, and/or any other appropriate type ofdata. In particular embodiments, the wireless registration request maybe an A11-Registration Request, although any other appropriate type ofwireless registration request may be use.

Upon receiving the wireless registration request, the active one ofcontrol nodes 54 determines whether cluster 50 is the appropriatecluster for the registration request. If it is not, the control nodegenerates a registration response containing an identifier for thecontrol node of the appropriate cluster and sends the response to PCF 57of base station 56 y, which will then form another registration request,directed to the identified control node.

If, however, the registration request is at the appropriate cluster, asin the example, the control node determines whether the registrationrequest is associated with an active wireless session. The control nodemay make this determination in particular embodiments by examining amobility event indicator (MEI) in the registration request, which mayhave been set by the originating PCF, although any other appropriatetype of indicator or technique may be used in other embodiments. Notethat if the registration request indicates that there is no wirelesssession associated with the registration request, the control node maytreat the registration request as a request to initiate a wirelesssession for the mobile unit.

If the control node determines that the registration request isassociated with an active wireless session, the control node determineswhether one of serving nodes 51 is managing a session associated withthe registration request. The control node may accomplish this, forexample, by examining a database containing information regarding thewireless sessions that serving nodes 51 are currently managing. If thecontrol node determines that one of serving nodes 51 is managing awireless session associated with the registration request, which shouldoccur in this instance because mobile unit 30 already had a wirelesssession established with serving node 51 a, the control node generates aregistration response containing an identifier for the serving node 51managing the wireless session. This response is sent to PCF 57 of basestation 56 y, which generates a wireless registration request directedto the identified one of serving nodes 51. When the serving node that ismanaging the wireless session receives the registration request, servingnode 51 a in the example, it may update the data link information forthe wireless session and continue managing the wireless session.Accordingly, the data link may be maintained between serving node 51 aand mobile unit 30.

If, however, the control node determines that one of serving nodes 51 isnot managing a wireless session associated with the registrationrequest, which could occur, for example, if the session information atthe control node is not complete or if a cluster has recently been addedto system 10, the control node selects one of serving nodes 51 to managethe wireless session and generates a wireless session responsecontaining the identifier for the selected one of serving nodes 51. Uponreceiving the registration response, PCF 57 of base station 56 ygenerates another registration request directed to the selected servingnode and a new data link is established.

Assume now that mobile unit 30 moves into area 68 of base station 66 aafter having established a data link to serving node 51 a. When basestation 66 a detects mobile unit 30, PCF 67 generates a wirelessregistration request for the mobile unit and sends the request tocontrol nodes 64. Upon receiving the registration request, the activeone of control nodes 64 determines whether cluster 60 is the appropriatecluster for the mobile unit. If it is not, which is the situation here,the active control node 64 generates a registration response containingthe identifier for the control nodes of the appropriate cluster, controlnodes 54 in the present example. The registration response is sent toPCF 67 of base station 66 a, which generates another registrationrequest, this time, however, directed to control nodes 54. Uponreceiving the registration request, the active one of control nodes 54indicates the appropriate one of serving nodes 51 to PCF 67 of basestation 66 a, serving node 51 a in this example, and the establisheddata link may be updated.

The illustrated embodiment of the present invention has severaltechnical features. For example, a control node that receives a wirelessregistration request for a mobile unit attempts to determine theappropriate cluster to manage wireless sessions for the mobile unit byusing an algorithmic approach on its identifier. Thus, the management ofmobile units may be distributed between serving node clusters. Moreover,by associating mobile units with clusters using an algorithmic approach,signaling between clusters may be reduced, allowing clusters ofdifferent sizes to operate with each other. Furthermore, by directingregistration requests for a mobile to a particular serving node cluster,a data link that may exist in the cluster may be maintained.Accordingly, a new data link does not have to be established to themobile unit, which will decrease the time in which data cannot betransmitted. Additionally, because the serving nodes do not have tostore data about the wireless sessions being managed by the otherserving nodes in the cluster and/or do not have to try to select aserving node to manage a wireless session, the memory and processingresources of the serving nodes may be utilized for managing data to andfrom the mobile units. Furthermore, additional serving nodes may beadded to a serving node cluster without significant effect on thecapabilities of the serving nodes already in the cluster. Additionally,because serving nodes and control nodes do not have to be co-located, aserving node cluster is easy to configure. Furthermore, if the controlnodes use a standards compliant RP interface, the structure of thecluster is transparent to the PCFs and serving nodes, allowing wide useof the current configuration. Moreover, this may allow continuity ofwireless data network operation in the event that a large number ofcontrol nodes fail, via reconfiguration of control node identifiers inthe PCFs and the serving nodes.

In certain embodiments, the management of wireless sessions by theclusters may be distributed in an uneven, yet controlled manner. Forexample, if the modulo operation is based on a number larger than thenumber of serving node clusters, then an identifier for a particularcluster may be associated with more than one remainder, allowing thatserving node cluster to receive an increased number of wirelessregistration requests. This may be particularly useful when differentclusters have different capabilities.

In particular embodiments, PCFs may assist in directing the initialwireless registration request to the control node of the appropriatecluster by implementing an algorithm similar to the one used by thecontrol nodes. Thus, PCFs may help to minimize redirections betweencontrollers of clusters.

Note that the addition and/or deletion of another serving node clusterto system 10 will probably disturb the distribution of wireless sessionsamong serving node clusters. For example, for embodiments that use themodulo operation on the identifier of a mobile unit, increasing thenumber of clusters by one in the operation will probably result in adifferent remainder and, hence, cluster, for serving the mobile unit.Thus, a wireless registration request for a mobile unit having an activesession at the time of the modification may be directed to a clusterthat is not managing a wireless session for the mobile unit.Accordingly, a new data link may have to be established in thesecircumstances. However, once the new data link is established, it mayremain anchored in the new serving node cluster until there is anotherchange in serving node clusters, which may take place on the time frameof weeks or months. Moreover, mobile units that do not have wirelesssessions at the time of the modification will probably not notice achange as the data link establishment procedure, although to a differentcluster, will probably remain the same. In particular embodiments,control nodes and/or serving nodes may be configured through the use ofcommand line interface (CLI) commands.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of control node 64a for communication system 10. In this embodiment, control node 64 aincludes a processor 92, a memory 94, and a communication interface 99.Memory 94, which is coupled to processor 92, includes a serving nodedatabase 95, a session database 96, a control node database 97, and aset of logic 98 for processor 92. Communication interface 99 is coupledto memory 94 and processor 92 and allows control node 64 a tocommunicate with communication network 62, and hence, base stations 64and serving nodes 61.

In operation, processor 92, according to logic 98, receives aregistration request for cluster 60 and analyzes it. Based on theanalysis, processor 92 generates a message informing the element thatgenerated the registration request of the appropriate control node forthe registration request or of one of serving nodes 61 for managing thewireless session associated with the registration request, possiblyafter selecting one of serving nodes 61.

For example, if the registration request is associated with anothercluster, such as, for example, when mobile unit 30 establishes a datalink in cluster 50 and moves to cluster 60, processor 92 determines anidentifier for control nodes 54 by algorithmically analyzing anidentifier of the mobile unit and a list of control nodes in controlnode database 97. Control node 64 a may poll and/or receive updatesregarding other control nodes through communication network 70. Theupdates may be regularly scheduled or as needed and may be sent bymulticast, unicast, state information exchange, or any other appropriatetechnique.

As another example, if the registration request indicates that awireless session exists for the mobile unit and the registration requestis at the appropriate control node, processor 92 may determine whetherone of serving nodes 61 is managing a wireless session associated withthe registration request by examining session database 96.

As a further example, if the registration request indicates that a newwireless session is desired and the registration request is at theappropriate control node, processor 92 may select one of serving nodes61 to manage the wireless session by examining the data in serving nodedatabase 95, and possibly session database 96.

Control node 64 a may poll and/or receive updates from serving nodes 61to maintain serving node database 95 and/or session database 96. Thedata exchange may be scheduled and/or as needed and may take place usingmulticast, unicast, state information exchange, or any other appropriatemessaging technique. In particular embodiments, the messaging betweencontrol node 64 a and serving nodes 61 may use A11-Registration Requestsand A11-Registration Replies.

FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of session database 96 for controlnode 64 a. As illustrated, session database 96 includes columns 102.Column 102 a includes the identifier for the mobile unit associated witha session. The identifier in column 102 a may be an IMSI, an ESN, a MIN,or any other appropriate identifier for a mobile unit and/or subscriber.Column 102 b includes an identifier for the serving node to which themobile unit is anchored, and column 102 c includes time informationabout the session, such as, for example, when the wireless session wasestablished, how much time has elapsed since the wireless wasestablished, and/or any other appropriate timing parameters of thewireless session. Accordingly, by searching column 102 a, processor 92may determine if one of serving nodes 61 is managing a wireless sessionassociated with the registration request and, if so, an identifier forthe serving node managing the wireless session.

Although FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of session database 96, otherembodiments may have less, more, and/or a different arrangement of data.For example, in some embodiments, session database 96 may include asession identifier, which could be used locally to designate wirelesssessions. As another example, in certain embodiments, session database96 may include service and/or traffic management parameters for mobileunits. As a further example, in particular embodiments, session database96 may include session status indicators for each session. As still afurther example, in some embodiments, the time data is not required.

FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of control node database 97 forcontrol node 64 a. As illustrated, control node database 97 includescolumns 104. Column 104 a contains an integer index of the control nodesabout which control node 64 a knows. Column 104 b includes a controlnode identifier associated with each integer in column 104 a. Inparticular embodiments, performing a modulo operation on an identifierfor the mobile unit based on the number of clusters will produce theinteger value in column 104 a of the control node associated with thewireless registration request. Thus, processor 92 may determine theidentifier of the control node by cross-referencing to column 104 b.

Although FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of control node database 97,other embodiments may have less, more, and/or a different arrangement ofdata. For example, in some embodiments, control node database 97 may notinclude column 104 a, especially if the remainder of the moduleoperation is used as an index to column 104 b. As a further example, incertain embodiments, control node database 97 may include multipleentries for one or more control nodes. Thus, the loading between theclusters may be altered using control node database 97. As a furtherexample, in particular embodiments, control node database 97 may includestatus indicators for each control node in column 104 b.

Serving node database 95 may contain any of a variety of data regardingserving nodes 61. For example, serving node database 95 may contain dataregarding identifiers for serving nodes 61, the type of each of servingnodes 61, the status of each of serving nodes 61, the loading of each ofserving nodes 61, and/or the capacity of each of serving nodes 61. Thus,when processor 92 attempts to select one of serving nodes 61 to manage awireless session, processor 92 can attempt to balance the load betweenserving nodes 61 based on their respective capacities and/or currentload. Note that the processor may determine the current load on servingnodes 61 or having it downloaded by the serving nodes, and the load on aserving node may depend on CPU usage, memory usage, occupancy, bandwidthusage, and/for any other appropriate factor.

The components of serving node 64 a may have a variety of forms and/orarrangements. For example, processor 92 may be a microprocessor, amicrocontroller, a field-programmable gate array, a biological computer,an atomic computer, and/or any other type of device for manipulatingdata in a logical manner. As another example, memory 94 may includerandom access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), compact diskread-only memory (CD-ROM), and/or any other type of volatile ornon-volatile electromagnetic or optical data storage device. Databases95-97 in memory 94 may be organized as relational, flat, network, and/orhierarchical databases or may have any other logical association ofdata. In certain embodiments one or more of databases 95-97 may be partof the same database. In particular embodiments, all or a part of memory94 may be encoded on processor 92. As a further example, communicationinterface 99 may be a network interface card, a transceiver, a port, amodem, and/or any other type of device for sending data to and receivingdata from a communication network.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart 500 illustrating operations of a control node,such as, for example, control node 54 a, in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention. At decision block 508, the controlnode waits to receive a wireless registration request, which may havebeen generated by a packet control function, a mobile unit, or otherappropriate network element. In particular embodiments, the registrationrequest may be an A11-Registration Request, although any otherappropriate type of registration request may be used. Upon receiving aregistration request, the control node determines the control nodeassociated with the registration request at function block 512. Inparticular embodiments, the control node may make this determination byperforming a modulo operation on an identifier for the mobile unit basedon a number associated with loading between clusters.

At decision block 516, the control node determines whether it is thecontrol node associated with the registration request. If the controlnode is not the control node associated with the registration request,the control node generates a registration response containing theidentifier for the control node associated with the registration requestat function block 520. In particular embodiments, the registrationresponse may be an A11-Registration Reply indicating that theregistration request has been denied. The registration response may thenbe sent to the network element that generated the registration request.The operations of the control node for this registration request arethen at an end.

If, however, the control node determines that it is the controlassociated with the registration request, the control node determineswhether the registration request is for a new wireless session atdecision block 524. In particular embodiments, the control node makesthis determination by examining an MEI in the registration request,although any other appropriate indicator or technique may be used. Ifthe control node determines that the registration request is for a newwireless session, the control node selects a serving node in the clusterto manage the wireless session at function block 528. In particularembodiments, the control node may examine the current loading of each ofthe serving nodes in the cluster in selecting the serving node to managethe session. Thus, the control node may maintain load balancing betweenthe serving nodes. At function block 532, the control node generates aregistration response with an identifier for the selected serving node.The registration response may then be sent to the PCF and/or mobile unitthat generated the registration request. The operations of the controlnode are then at an end for this registration request.

If, however, the control node determines that the registration requestis not for a new session, indicating that a wireless is alreadyestablished for mobile unit, the control node determines whether thereis a wireless session associated with the registration request atdecision block 536. In particular embodiments, the control node may makethis determination by examining a wireless session database containingdata regarding the sessions being managed by serving nodes in thecluster, such as, for example, session database 96. If there is awireless session associated with the registration request, the controlnode generates a registration response containing an identifier for theserving node managing the wireless session at decision function block540. The registration response may then be sent to the PCF and/or mobileunit that originated the registration request. The functions of thecontrol node with respect to this registration request are then at anend. If, however, there is no wireless session associated with theregistration request, the control node proceeds to function block 528 toselect a serving node for the registration request.

Although flowchart 500 illustrates the operations of a control node inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention, otherembodiments may include less, more, and/or a different arrangement ofoperations. For example, in some embodiments, a control node maydetermine whether the registration request is for a new wireless sessionbefore determining whether it is the associated control node. As anotherexample, in certain embodiments, a control node may not select a servingnode if there is no wireless session associated with a registrationrequest indicating that it is associated with an active wirelesssession, forcing the PCF to generate a wireless registration request fora new session if the mobile unit still desires a session.

While the present invention has been described with several embodiments,a myriad of changes, variations, alterations, transformations, andmodifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art, and it isintended that the present invention encompass such changes, variations,alterations, transformations, and modifications as fall within the scopeof the appended claims.

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 49. A method for identifying a wirelessserving node for a mobile unit, comprising: detecting a mobile unit inthe vicinity of a base station; determining that the mobile unit desiresto establish a wireless data session; determining a cluster to managethe wireless session; and generating a wireless registration request forthe mobile unit.
 50. The method of claim 49, wherein determining acluster to manage the wireless session comprises determining anidentifier for a control node of the cluster.
 51. The method of claim50, wherein the identifier of the control node is an Internet protocoladdress.
 52. The method of claim 49, wherein the registration requestcomprises an A11-Registration Request.
 53. The method of claim 49,further comprising: receiving a message regarding a control node; andupdating a database containing information regarding control nodes, thedatabase containing identifiers for control nodes.
 54. The method ofclaim 49, wherein determining a cluster to manage the wireless sessioncomprises performing a hash method on the mobile unit identifier. 55.The method of claim 54, wherein determining a cluster to manage thewireless session further comprises performing a modulo operation on themobile unit identifier, using a number associated with the loadingbetween clusters as the basis for the operation and the remainder ofoperation as an index into a database containing identifiers for controlnodes.
 56. A set of logic for identifying a wireless serving node for amobile unit, the logic encoded in media and operable to: detect a mobileunit in the vicinity of a base station; determine that the mobile unitdesires to establish a wireless data session; determine a cluster tomanage the wireless session; and generate a wireless registrationrequest for the mobile unit.
 57. The logic of claim 56, whereindetermining a cluster to manage the wireless session comprisesdetermining an identifier for a control node of the cluster.
 58. Thelogic of claim 57, wherein the identifier of the control node is anInternet protocol address.
 59. The logic of claim 56, wherein theregistration request comprises an A11-Registration Request.
 60. Thelogic of claim 56, wherein the logic is further operable to: receive amessage regarding a control node; and update a database containinginformation regarding control nodes, the database containing identifiersfor control nodes.
 61. The logic of claim 56, wherein determining acluster to manage the wireless session comprises performing a hashmethod on the mobile unit identifier.
 62. The logic of claim 61, whereindetermining a cluster to manage the wireless session further comprisesperforming a modulo operation on the mobile unit identifier, using anumber associated with the loading between clusters as the basis for theoperation and the remainder of operation as an index into a databasecontaining identifiers for control nodes.
 63. A system for identifying awireless serving node for a mobile unit, comprising: means for detectinga mobile unit in the vicinity of a base station; means for determiningthat the mobile unit desires to establish a wireless data session; meansfor determining a cluster to manage the wireless session; and means forgenerating a wireless registration request for the mobile unit.
 64. Amethod for identifying a wireless serving node for a mobile unit,comprising: receiving a wireless registration request at a control nodefor a wireless serving node cluster; analyzing a mobile unit identifierto determine a control node associated with the registration request,wherein analyzing the mobile unit identifier comprises performing analgorithm on the mobile unit identifier; and generating a wirelessregistration response containing an identifier for the control nodeassociated with the registration request if the control node is not thecontrol node associated with the registration request.
 65. The method ofclaim 64, further comprising: receiving a message regarding wirelesssessions being managed by a serving node in the cluster; and updating adatabase containing information regarding wireless sessions beingmanaged by serving nodes in the cluster.
 66. The method of claim 65,further comprising receiving messages regarding load and wirelesssessions for every serving node in the cluster.
 67. The method of claim64, further comprising: determining whether a serving node in thecluster is managing a wireless session associated with the registrationrequest if the control node is the control node associated with theregistration request; and generating a wireless registration responsecontaining an identifier for the serving node managing the wirelesssession if a serving node in the cluster is managing a wireless sessionassociated with the registration request.
 68. The method of claim 67,wherein determining whether a serving node in the cluster is managing awireless session associated with the registration request comprisesaccessing a database containing wireless session information for servingnodes in the cluster.
 69. The method of claim 64, further comprising:selecting a serving node in the cluster to manage the wireless sessionif the control node is the control node associated with the registrationrequest; and generating a wireless registration response containing anidentifier for the selected serving node.
 70. The method of claim 69,wherein selecting a serving node in the cluster to manage the wirelesssession comprises maintaining load balancing between the serving nodes.71. The method of claim 64, further comprising: determining whether aserving node in the cluster is managing a wireless session associatedwith the registration request if the control node is the control nodeassociated with the registration request and the registration request isnot for a new wireless session; generating, if a serving node in thecluster is managing a wireless session associated with the registrationrequest, a wireless registration response containing an identifier forthe serving node managing the wireless session; selecting a serving nodein the cluster to manage the wireless session if the control node is thecontrol node associated with the registration request and theregistration request is for a new wireless session; and generating awireless registration response containing an identifier for the selectedserving node.
 72. The method of claim 64, wherein the registrationrequest comprises an A11-Registration Request.
 73. The method of claim64, further comprising: receiving a message regarding a control node ofanother cluster; and updating a database containing informationregarding control nodes, the database containing identifiers for controlnodes.
 74. The method of claim 64, wherein determining a control nodeassociated with the registration request by using an algorithm on amobile unit identifier in the registration request comprises performinga hash method on the mobile unit identifier.
 75. The method of claim 74,wherein determining a control node associated with the registrationrequest by using an algorithm on a mobile unit identifier in theregistration request further comprises performing a modulo operation onthe mobile unit identifier, using a number associated with the loadingbetween clusters as the basis for the operation and the remainder ofoperation as an index into a database containing identifiers for controlnodes.
 76. The method of claim 64, wherein the identifier of theassociated control node is an Internet protocol address.
 77. A set oflogic for identifying a wireless serving node for a mobile unit, thelogic encoded in media and operable to: receive a wireless registrationrequest at a control node for a wireless serving node cluster; analyze amobile unit identifier to determine a control node associated with theregistration request, wherein analyzing the mobile unit identifiercomprises performing an algorithm on the mobile unit identifier; andgenerate a wireless registration response containing an identifier forthe control node associated with the registration request if the controlnode is not the control node associated with the registration request.78. A system for identifying a wireless serving node for a mobile unit,comprising: means for receiving a wireless registration request at acontrol node for a wireless serving node cluster; means for analyzing amobile unit identifier to determine a control node associated with theregistration request, wherein analyzing the mobile unit identifiercomprises performing an algorithm on the mobile unit identifier; andmeans for generating a wireless registration response containing anidentifier for the control node associated with the registration requestif the control node is not the control node associated with theregistration request.